General Assembly Official Records Seventieth Session
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United Nations A/70/ PV.20 General Assembly Official Records Seventieth session 20th plenary meeting Wednesday, 30 September 2015, 3 p.m. New York President: Mr. Lykketoft .......................................... (Denmark) In the absence of the President, Mr. González community in support of this principle has been of Franco (Paraguay), Vice-President, took the Chair. great importance to us. Since its completion in San Francisco in 1945, The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m. the Charter of the United Nations has embodied the core principles of the international system. However, Address by Mr. Raimonds Vējonis, President of the far too often international order and principles have Republic of Latvia been violated and the United Nations has been unable The Acting President (spoke in Spanish): The to prevent conflicts or build peace or stop atrocities. Assembly will now hear an address by the President of Past failures must be lessons for the future. The United the Republic of Latvia. Nations, and in particular the Security Council, must be able to implement the mission set by the Charter Mr. Raimonds Vējonis, President of the Republic with a renewed sense of responsibility. of Latvia, was escorted into the General Assembly Hall. It is time to move forward with Security Council reform. We applaud efforts to revive negotiations on The Acting President (spoke in Spanish): On behalf this important issue. Latvia supports the expansion of of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome the Security Council in both categories of membership. to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Raimonds At least one additional non-permanent seat should be Vējonis, President of the Republic of Latvia, and to ensured for the Eastern European States. Early action invite him to address the Assembly. of the United Nations in situations of concern is crucial. President Vējonis: As we celebrate 70 years of the Latvia supports the proposal to voluntarily restrain the United Nations and 70 years since the end of the Second use of the veto in the Security Council in situations World War, it is time for us all to take stock. What has involving mass atrocity crimes. It also supports, for all been achieved? Where have we failed? What is there members of the Council, adherence to a code of conduct yet to do to create a safer and better world? that would suspend their right to veto any action designed to end and prevent mass atrocity crimes. In July, we marked the seventy-fifth anniversary since the Sumner Welles Declaration on the non-recognition On several crucial occasions in recent times, policy of the illegal Soviet annexation of the Baltic the Security Council was not able to take timely and States. This policy reflected the principle, based on decisive action. That has had dire consequences. The international law, that the change of borders by force Security Council was blocked from playing a role in is not acceptable. The firm stance of the international stopping Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and in seeking justice for the victims of the Flight MH-17 in This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 15-29568 (E) *1529568* A /70/PV.20 30/09/2015 an international tribunal that could establish the truth Increased migration from conflict-torn Middle on who shot down that civilian aeroplane. The conflict East and African countries to Europe has become in eastern Ukraine has cost thousands of lives and led one of the greatest humanitarian challenges of to the suffering of millions of innocent victims. Russia our time. Migration challenges also persist in the must stop all forms of support to separatists and use its Asia-Pacific region and in the Americas. Beyond influence to make them adhere to the Minsk agreements. immediate humanitarian responses, the new trends of Full implementation of the Minsk agreements by all migration and forced displacement require long-term, parties is essential. comprehensive solutions. The stabilization of political, economic and social situations in the European Union’s The international community, including the General neighbourhoods must be the ultimate goal. At the same Assembly, supports Ukraine and its territorial integrity. time, a greater focus should be put on addressing the The illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by root causes of increased illegal migration, including by Russia will not be recognized. We are particularly strengthening conflict prevention capabilities. concerned about the worsening social, economic and human rights situation in Crimea, especially affecting Latvia welcomes the ongoing United Nations Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians. Together review of peacekeeping. Cooperation between the with the rest of the international community, Latvia United Nations and regional organizations is essential to will continue to support Ukraine’s reform process in effectively fulfil peacekeeping mandates. Operational order to strengthen its democracy, economy and good tasks need to be effectively synchronized between all governance. involved parties. The European Union is an important partner of the United Nations, as demonstrated in The horrific conflict in Syria has entered its the Central African Republic, Mali and other places. fifth year. It has created a humanitarian catastrophe Latvia provides a voluntary contribution to United and destabilized the whole region. The international Nations peacekeeping and intends, for the first time, to community must not abandon the people of Syria and participate in a United Nations peacekeeping mission. must push for a political settlement. Those responsible for using internationally prohibited chemical weapons International commitment to protect populations in Syria must be identified and held accountable. The from atrocity crimes has been greatly strengthened in conflict and fragility of Syria and Iraq have contributed the past 10 years. Latvia strongly supports the work of to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/ the International Criminal Court as the legal arm of the Daesh and the violent extremism spreading globally. responsibility to protect and hopes for swift activation Concerted international action is vital to defeat this evil of the Kampala amendments to the Rome Statute on the and is key to achieving lasting peace and stability in crime of aggression. Syria, Iraq and the wider region. This year the international community will conclude Latvia welcomes the recent nuclear agreement with two of the most important international processes of our Iran. The full and smooth implementation of the Joint times. We have just adopted the ambitious 2030 Agenda Comprehensive Action Plan is now necessary. Only for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) for the then can a change in the regional dynamics towards next 15 years. The Sustainable Development Goals must more engagement and cooperation, as well as greater drive us to make real changes to end poverty and build stability in the Middle East region, become a reality. prosperity and equality for all. With well-thought-out, focused and action-oriented policies we can do it. But It is commendable that, despite all the existing most importantly, the involvement and accountability challenges, the Government of Afghanistan has shown of all stakeholders at all levels will be critical to the its commitment to the democratic process. Sustainable success of the Sustainable Development Goals. peace and stability in the country can be achieved only with continued strong commitment from the Afghan These Goals will be greatly reinforced by the side and further international support. approval of a new universal agreement to address climate change at the Conference of the Parties to the The resolution of protracted conflicts in Transnistria, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh should Change, to be held in Paris. Failure to undertake remain on the international agenda. ambitious mitigation actions cannot be accepted. Any 2/33 15-29568 30/09/2015 A /70/PV.20 further postponement will make adaptation extremely road ahead is built on the goals that were laid down in costly or even unfeasible. Latvia supports the reduction the Charter 70 years ago and which remain valid today of greenhouse gas emissions. It is also important to and in the future. send a strong signal to investors and business of the The Acting President (spoke in Spanish): On plans to move towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the world. President of the Republic of Latvia for the statement he The United Nations has played a crucial role in has just made. advancing economic and social development and Mr. Raimonds Vējonis, President of the Republic human rights for everyone. These ideals and values of Latvia, was escorted from the General Assembly have proven to be timeless and universal. The United Hall. Nations will continue to be an important forum in the quest for solutions to future challenges through global Address by the Mr. Tomislav Nikolić, President of discussion, raising awareness, creating expertise and the Republic of Serbia building trust. At the forefront of these issues is the speed at which technology is evolving. Technological The Acting President (spoke in Spanish): The development is a source of progress and growth. At Assembly will now hear an address by the President of the same time, the rapid advancement of technology the Republic of Serbia. has exposed significant vulnerabilities and a variety of Mr. Tomislav Nikolić, President of the Republic of issues of transnational and cross-sectoral nature.